Tour overview

This 33-day small-group journey is an in-depth overland adventure through eight countries of central and eastern Europe, from imperial Vienna to Istanbul, combining great cities with mountains, villages and folk traditions. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout. You travel by train, local bus and private transfer, and stay thirty-two nights in hotels and pensions, plus a homestay in the Saxon village of Viscri. Breakfast is included on most days, with three dinners, including home-cooked meals in Maramures and Viscri.

From Vienna you cross into the Czech Republic for two nights in Cesky Krumlov, a fairy-tale town below a castle, then on to Prague. In Poland you explore Wroclaw, with its market square and Church of Peace at Swidnica, and Krakow, the old royal capital, with a guided tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Two nights in the High Tatras in Slovakia include a mountain hike.

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Three nights in Budapest give you time for its baths and boulevards before you travel to Eger, a Baroque wine town, and into Romania. In Maramures, a region rich in wooden churches, folk music and tradition, you stay two nights in a family-run pension. Transylvania brings the medieval citadel of Sighisoara, a homestay in Viscri, the famed Bran Castle and two nights in Brasov, followed by Bucharest, Romania's energetic capital.

Crossing the Danube into Bulgaria, you explore Veliko Tarnovo and its Tsarevets Fortress, then Sofia. You visit the Rila Monastery in the Rila Mountains, hike from Vihren Chalet in the Pirin Mountains near Bansko, and tour Plovdiv's Roman theatre and old town with a local guide, before a long day's journey from Europe into Istanbul.

The physical rating is medium, with hikes, long travel days and local transport. This trip suits travellers with time who want to see eastern Europe in real depth, from its famous capitals to its quiet villages and mountains. Pack light, as you carry your own bags on local transport. Free days in the great cities give you time to rest and explore at your own pace, and the leader is on hand with suggestions.

Trip highlights

  • Cesky Krumlov and Prague (Days 3–6)
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau with a guide (Day 10)
  • Hiking in the High Tatras (Day 12)
  • Folk traditions in Maramures (Days 17–18)
  • A homestay in Viscri and Bran Castle (Days 20–21)
  • Rila Monastery and the Pirin Mountains (Days 29–30)

Your route

27 stops from Vienna to Istanbul

33-day route: Vienna – Cesky Krumlov – Prague – Wroclaw – Krakow – Tatras – Budapest – Maramures – Brasov – Bucharest – Sofia – Plovdiv – Istanbul
  1. Vienna Days 1–2
  2. Cesky Krumlov Days 3–4
  3. Prague Days 5–6
  4. Swidnica Day 7
  5. Wroclaw Days 7–8
  6. Krakow Days 9–10
  7. Auschwitz-Birkenau Day 10
  8. Wieliczka Salt Mines Day 10
  9. Tatranska Lomnica Days 11–12
  10. Budapest Days 13–15
  11. Eger Day 16
  12. Debrecen Day 17
  13. Maramures Days 17–18
  14. Sapanta (Merry Cemetery) Day 18
  15. Sighisoara Day 19
  16. Viscri Day 20
  17. Bran Castle Day 21
  18. Brasov Days 21–22
  19. Rasnov Fortress Day 22
  20. Bucharest Days 23–24
  21. Veliko Tarnovo Days 25–26
  22. Kazanlak Day 27
  23. Sofia Days 27–28
  24. Rila Monastery Day 29
  25. Bansko Day 29
  26. Plovdiv Days 30–31
  27. Istanbul Days 32–33

Why choose this tour

Eight countries in real depth, including villages, mountains and homestays. Great value for a month-long journey.

Best suited to

  • Travellers with time for a long trip
  • History lovers
  • Solo travellers looking for a small group
  • Return visitors to Europe
Bran Castle in Transylvania

Day-by-day itinerary

33 days from Vienna, Austria to Istanbul, Turkey

  1. Day 1 · Vienna Arrive in Vienna

    A welcome meeting at 6pm.

    Hotel
    Magdas Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Vienna Vienna

    A walk and coffee and cake.

    Hotel
    Magdas Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Cesky Krumlov Cesky Krumlov

    A bus into the Czech Republic.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Cesky Krumlov Cesky Krumlov

    A free day below the castle.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Prague Prague

    An orientation walk in Prague.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Prague Prague

    A free day in the Czech capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  7. Day 7 · Swidnica, Wroclaw Wroclaw

    Into Poland via the Church of Peace.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  8. Day 8 · Wroclaw Wroclaw

    A free day in Wroclaw.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Krakow Krakow

    A train to the old royal capital.

    Hotel
    Pension
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Oswiecim Auschwitz-Birkenau

    A guided tour of the memorial museum.

    Hotel
    Pension
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Tatranska Lomnica High Tatras

    A bus into the mountains.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · High Tatras High Tatras

    A mountain hike.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Budapest Budapest

    A long travel day to Budapest.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · Budapest Budapest

    A free day on the Danube.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Budapest Budapest

    Another free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Eger Eger

    A train to the Baroque wine town.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  17. Day 17 · Debrecen, Maramures Maramures

    Via Debrecen into Romania.

    Hotel
    Pension
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  18. Day 18 · Maramures Maramures

    Wooden churches and folk traditions.

    Hotel
    Pension
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  19. Day 19 · Sighisoara Sighisoara

    A drive to the medieval citadel.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  20. Day 20 · Viscri Viscri

    A homestay in a Saxon village.

    Hotel
    Homestay
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  21. Day 21 · Bran Castle, Brasov Brasov

    Bran Castle on the way to Brasov.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  22. Day 22 · Brasov Brasov

    A free day in Brasov.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  23. Day 23 · Bucharest Bucharest

    A train to the capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  24. Day 24 · Bucharest Bucharest

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  25. Day 25 · Veliko Tarnovo Veliko Tarnovo

    Across the Danube into Bulgaria.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  26. Day 26 · Tsarevets Fortress Veliko Tarnovo

    Visit the hilltop fortress.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  27. Day 27 · Sofia Sofia

    A transfer to Bulgaria's capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  28. Day 28 · Sofia Sofia

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  29. Day 29 · Rila Monastery, Bansko Bansko

    The Rila Monastery in the mountains.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  30. Day 30 · Pirin Mountains, Plovdiv Plovdiv

    A Pirin hike, then Plovdiv.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  31. Day 31 · Plovdiv Plovdiv

    A guided tour of the old town.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  32. Day 32 · Istanbul Istanbul

    A long day from Europe to Istanbul.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  33. Day 33 · Istanbul Trip ends

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Rugged peaks in the High Tatras

Where you stay

  • Vienna (2 nights) Magdas Hotel
  • Cesky Krumlov (2 nights) Hotel
  • Prague (2 nights) Hotel
  • Wroclaw (2 nights) Hotel
  • Krakow (2 nights) Pension
  • High Tatras (2 nights) Hotel
  • Budapest (3 nights) Hotel
  • Eger (1 night) Hotel
  • Maramures (2 nights) Pension
  • Sighisoara (1 night) Hotel
  • Viscri (1 night) Homestay
  • Brasov (2 nights) Hotel
  • Bucharest (2 nights) Hotel
  • Veliko Tarnovo (2 nights) Hotel
  • Sofia (2 nights) Hotel
  • Bansko (1 night) Hotel
  • Plovdiv (2 nights) Hotel
  • Istanbul (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 31 nights in hotels and pensions, and 1 in a homestay
  • Meals 28 breakfasts and 3 dinners
  • Trains, local buses and private transfers
  • Coffee and cake in Vienna and a Cesky Krumlov guided tour
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau guided tour and a High Tatras hike
  • Maramures and Viscri village stays
  • Bran Castle, Tsarevets Fortress and Rila Monastery
  • Pirin Mountains hike and a Plovdiv guided tour
  • Leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 4 breakfasts, 31 lunches and 29 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Rila Monastery in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want luggage handled — you carry bags on local transport
  • You dislike long travel days
  • You want many meals included
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–5, 8–25 and 28–33 · Lunch: none included · Dinner: Days 17–18 and 20
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Austria · UK FCDO travel advice for Bulgaria · UK FCDO travel advice for Czech Republic · UK FCDO travel advice for Hungary · UK FCDO travel advice for Poland · UK FCDO travel advice for Romania · UK FCDO travel advice for Slovakia · UK FCDO travel advice for Turkey
St Mary's Basilica in Kraków

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £6,395 per person, twin share, tour only. 48 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Which countries do we visit?

Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.

How do we travel?

By train, local bus and private transfer.

How hard are the hikes?

Moderate mountain walks in the High Tatras and the Pirin Mountains.

Do I need visas?

UK visitors do not usually need visas for these countries for a short stay. Check before you travel.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 15.

How many people travel together?

Up to 12 travellers, with a leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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